Getting there

There are regular buses from Dar es Salaam to Bagamoyo several times a day. The stop in Dar es Salaam is the central bus station.

Otherwise it is also possible to get from Dar to Bagamoyo by rental car or "rental car with driver" (recommended: Makupa company) or to use the transfer service of the hotels in Bagamoyo (only in connection with a room reservation). The road from Dar es Salaam to Bagamoyo is perfectly developed, but traffic is currently (2020) severely hindered by road construction work on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam and by the increasing rush hour traffic.

In 2003 a new road from Dar es Salaam to Bagamoyo was completed (financed by funds of European Union). Nevertheless, depending on the time of day, the journey time by car is either 2-3 hours in rush hour traffic from Dar es Salaam or around 60 minutes at night and on public holidays. The journey from Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam International Airport even has to be planned for 3-4 hours on weekdays. The nightly arrival or departure with Turkish Airlines is ideal: Then the route can be done in just under an hour.

The journey from Kilimanjaro leads via the B1 to the Usambara Mountains and from there via the A14 to the small town of Msata. A paved side road leads from Msata over the railway line and the Ruvu River directly to Bagamoyo, so that the long detour via Dar es Salaam is no longer necessary. In the rainy season, however, this road may be closed due to flooding of the Ruvu River. We strongly advise against traveling by bus. Tanzania is one of the countries with the highest number of traffic accidents per inhabitant in the world with many bus crashings.

Since 2012 there has also been an unpaved road connection between Bagamoyo and the Saadani National Park north of Bagamoyo. A bridge crosses the Wami River. However, when it rains, this road can only be used with four-wheel drive vehicles.
 

The flight connection between Bagamoyo, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, which started in 2014, has now been discontinued. A charter flight from Bagamoyo to Zanzibar should still be possible on request, for example by the very reliable airline Coastal (financially, however, it is only worthwhile for groups).

It has recently become possible to book a small passenger ship for the route from Bagamoyo to Zanzibar (and vice versa). This is also a good alternative to the cumbersome day tour Bagamoyo-Dar es Salaam-Zanzibar, especially for tour groups. The charter ship is operated by the tenant of Lodge Firefly in Bagamoyo. Inquiries are also possible here. Crossings with a dhow (traditional sailing ship) are currently not permitted for foreigners and, given the high waves in the Strait of Zanzibar, not necessarily recommended. Sunken dhows have already cost many lives.